The win pushes the Quarriers’ record to 5-2 on the season and gives Dell Rapids its first win over the Mustangs since 2010.

Quarriers coach Steve Hansen said the game was symbolic of the great rivalry between the two schools.

“It was an exciting finish,” he said. “That’s what you come to expect between Tri-Valley and Dell Rapids. It’s just two good football programs playing and playing to the finish.”

The game began with some fireworks early as Dell Rapids’ Zach Schroeder returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to give the Quarriers an early 6-0 advantage.

The score remained at 6-0 until the fourth quarter when Tri-Valley finally broke through on the scoreboard as Nick Buchmann rushed in from 14 yards out to knot the game at six apiece with 11:52 remaining.

The teams traded possessions before the Mustangs set up shop at the Dell Rapids’ 49-yard-line with 2:50 remaining in the game. Moving the ball into Quarriers territory, Tri-Valley appeared to drive down for a winning touchdown. On 4th-and-8 from the Dell Rapids 29-yard-line, Clark Haugen’s pass for Josh Reider fell incomplete, giving Dell Rapids the ball back.

With 27 seconds remaining, Dell Rapids’ Jacob Huewe rumbled 22 yards to the Mustangs 43-yard-line. On the very next play, Schmidt rushed for 11 yards to give the Quarriers a first down with 13 seconds left and set up the winning pass.

Schmidt said the play was a designed play that he and Carpenter executed to perfection.
“They wanted me to throw the ball to the end zone and I did,” he said. “I just threw it up to our receiver and I had faith in him to catch it.”

The Quarriers had a solid night rushing the ball as they tallied 161 yards on the ground with 70 coming from Huewe and 64 via Schmidt. Defensively, Andrew Wiebenga contributed a game-high 10 tackles with 1.5 sacks.

Tri-Valley coach Steve Bazata said his team was young this season but said the future is bright for the program.

“We lost a lot of guys from last year,” he said. “This year’s senior class has only eight guys so we are very inexperienced. We’re learning as we go.”

The Mustangs (3-5) were led by Buchmann, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Jaden Krump and Joey Newman each contributed five tackles.